OK, I know I said that was my last post for a while......

.....but I had to show you these cute little gift bags I made today!  I cheated a little (used my Cricut Expressions to cut out the handbag box templates) but I did at least stamp on them with Season of Joy in Purely Pomegranate.  I also punched out the cute little flower with my Three For You punch and added a half pearl from my Pretties Kit.  The ribbon is purely pomegranate, same as the ink.   

As for what is inside the bags - well, you'll have to wait until after Christmas as I don't want to ruin the surprise!

They look cute, don't they?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

and a Happy New Year to anyone who reads my blog!  I'll probably not update for a few weeks as I'll be enjoying some time off with my wonderful family.  I hope you enjoy this time too.

Some Scrapbooking, for a change

I know - two posts in one day, INCONCEIVABLE!  (Princess Bride reference there, hee, hee)

Just thought I'd show you a few more pages of the 8 x 8 albums I've made by Mum and MIL for Christmas, now that I'm wrapping them to go under the tree!

Please note all materials are SU! unless otherwise stated.  I've done these in a hurry (what else is new?) so I've kept things nice and simple.  I've stamped and used co-ordinating DSP (Afternoon Tea from the Summer Mini with Live Your Dreams Stamp set).    Also I was happy to discover that the Live Your Dreams set has a journalling stamp - dotted lines - which makes it perfect for scrapbooking.  I've used it in almost every page.

  what?  another stinkin' sideways photo?  Argh!

Making these was child's play...

...and here is the child to prove it!   My wonderful assistant here is showing off the pencil toppers she made at the Kid's Workshop I wrote about in the previous post.   They are simply scalloped circles of cardstock punched out with the must-have Stampin' Up! scalloped circle punch, with a contrasting circle punched with the 1 5/8 inch circle punch and a circle which the children stamped then punched out with the  1 1/4 circle punch, attached with a glue dot to the pencil.

I don't have a copy of the card we made (yet) but here is the triangle box as demonstrated by my assistant:  

it is simply half of an A4 page of cardstock (stamped any way you like), 

scored at the half-way mark then scored to form a diamond or kite shape.  

Fold it together, 

punch some holes, thread through ribbon 

and you are done!  

A big thank you to my lovely assistant!

Kid's workshop fun

I had the pleasure of doing a workshop for my children's primary school Vacation Care programme yesterday - it was a lot of fun!  There were 18 kids of various ages, and we made a card, a triangle box (even had a treat to put inside the box!) and a pencil topper.  Some very talented youngsters there.  Including my eldest daughter, aged 8,  who showed the kids how to make the pencil topper with minimal assistance from me!  Looks like a future Stampin' Up! lady in the making.  

I'll post some pictures of the things we made when I get a chance.  The kids did a great job!

Made me realise that stamping isn't just for adults - kids enjoy it too, and it is a great creative hobby for them as well.  I could easily do a birthday party workshop for a group of children......hmmm, some ideas are flowing now!

Hopefully I'll update tomorrow with photographs.  Now it is time for bed.  I've been reorganising my craft room, and it is a big job! 

Christmas is NEXT WEEK!

faints..............................Sorry, had an attack of the vapours,  just realised that Christmas is NEXT WEEK and............swoons

That is all.

One-layer card with depth

A one-layer card is as simple as it gets:  no fiddly measuring or cutting or matting.  Something clean and refreshing about it.  Of course, the danger with simple is that sometimes it becomes boring.    This card has some depth due to the reverse masking technique I used.  To make this card, I cut out a rectangle, then used the leftover piece (the reverse mask) to sponge a rectangle shape with soft sky ink.  I then stamped the group of trees with blue bayou, with the mask still on.  I then removed the mask and added the lovely pine tree in Wild Wasabi and decorated with a few sprinkles of Dazzling Diamonds glitter applied with 2 way glue.  Then the sentiment from the Merry Many Messages set (part of this month's promotion) in Purely Pomegranite.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out!

I know I've CASEd this card from somewhere, but I cannot recall for the life of me where I saw it.  Splitcoast?  If anyone knows, please let me know so I can give the original artist due recognition.  I'll edit with their name if I find it.  

Quick Christmas gifts

I've been making a few of these as Christmas presents - notice the pretty Ginger Blossom DSP from the Summer Mini?    The box on the left is Makeesha's Love Note Box (see HERE for instructions) and I've made about 10 little gift cards (or "Love Notes" as SU calls them, LOL) out of scraps to go in it.  The Card Holder on the right is the same as the one I made last time.

Here are the gift cards I made to go in the box:

 

And here's a closer look at my card folder  

  

And the cards to go in it, using the Embrace Life stamp set:

 

I followed the colours of the DSP in making my cards:  Groovy Guava, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, River Rock.  Can you believe I actually hated Cameo Coral and Groovy Guava before this mini catalogue?  I never used these colours, ever.  Now, I use them all the time.  Who knew they looked so good together?

To "watercolour" the blossoms, I first stamped the image with Black Stazon ink, then used my blender pen with ink from my Groovy Guava inkpad.  Simple, but so pretty.   SU's Basic Black ink is somewhat waterproof (therefore OK to use with your aqua painter), but I have discovered I get better results when using the blender pen if I stamp with Stazon, otherwise the blender fluid picks up bits of black ink and the effect is muddy.

Oh, and if you were considering getting any markers - better hurry because the are not available after the 14th December.  I'm going to be away from 13th-14th, so that means you really have until Friday 12th if you wish to order them from me!  

Not just cards

Told you I've been busy!  Please ignore the poor lighting (another 11:00pm photo), the crappy plastic "Christmas" tablecloth, etc.  We are giving the male teachers a bottle of wine for Christmas, and I've jazzed them up with these great hanging treat boxes - the little Cadbury "8 moments" sticks are the perfect size to slide into the little box.  I've also seen people put a little bottle opener in there instead - possibilities are endless.  I left the choccies in the fridge so they wouldn't melt, so they are not in the photo.  If you would like to try one of these super easy treat bags yourself, there is a wonderful tutorial here.

Next to the bottles are two cute "Box in a bag" which I later filled with chocolates to give to someone else.  Again, they are quite simple to make yourself - see the tutorial here.  A pretty way to package any small gift.

Next here is a gift I made for a friend - a little folder with 3 cards and matching envelopes inside.  Again, so quick and easy to make - see the tutorial here.

I used my markers to ink up the stamps so I could get a multicoloured image.  

The front of the folder.  The silver hodgepodge label holder at the front adds an elegant touch, I think.

.....AND now for some cards!  Here are a few using the NEW Summer mini! 

Eastern Blooms, Felt Fusion flowers, yummy wide chocolate chip ribbon

And gorgeous Ginger Blossoms DSP, Eastern Blooms, Say it with Scallops, Scalloped square punch, plus chunky glitter.

Have a great day.

Summer Mini is Here

..........amid much rejoicing throughout the land.  If you haven't got a copy, and would like me to send you one, just drop me an email.  So many yummy things!  Hard to pick a favourite - the scallop edge punch?  The gorgeous DSP?  The chunky glitter?  Eastern Blooms?  Its all good!

I've been busy making cards for the kids to give their friends, teacher presents, and a newbie Demo Swap I signed up for.  All fun, but busy times!

Unfortunately I'm experiencing some technical difficulties, so I can't show you my photos tonight (what's that?  User error?  No, I tell you, it's that machine!) but I shall endeavour to do so tomorrow.  Have a great evening!

Single Marker Promotion is extended until 14th December!

Woo-hoo!  So you have more time to order your favourites.

However, the Spring Mini Catalogue and Rub-On promotions are not extended - they finish on the 30th November.

More Summer Mini Preview

Here is a cute gift card holder I made using the almost retired Holiday Harmony DSP (Spring Mini), Purely Pomegranate cardstock and matching satin ribbon (ribbon also from the Spring Mini).  It was really easy, but looks impressive.  I used a template by Kristina Werner at Two Peas in a Bucket.  Hmm, we have that sideways issue again!  Moving on....

To another Summer Mini preview!  Here I've used the NEW scallop edge punch (LOVE it!), new DSP, a new stamp set called Eastern Blooms, AND new chunky glitter.  What's not to love about chunky glitter?  The little flower I've randomly stamped is actually from the Three For You Punch Box set (not new, it is from the main 2008-09 catalogue).

Same new scallop edge punch, new DSP and I've also stamped then punched out flowers from the Three For You Punch Box.  Don't you love how they match the flowers on the DSP perfectly?

Here's two little boy's birthday card using my jumbo outline alphabet, new stamp set In the Stars, and I've punched out one of the stars with the Large Star punch.  Again, love how it was made to co-ordinate with stamps!

Heat 'n Stick tutorial (or how to make the sparkly tree)

Due to popular demand (well, Christine and Maree wanted to know, anyway!) I've made a step by step tutorial on how to use Heat 'n Stick powder.        

Here is what you will need:

• Heat Gun
• Versamark
• Ink colour of your choice
• Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
• Heat n Stick Powder
• small paint brush
• Powder Pal
• Embossing Buddy
• Cardstock
• Stamp

Step One:

Give your cardstock and the powder pal (scrap cardstock may be substituted if you don't have a powder pal) a vigourous rub over with the embossing buddy.  Don't worry if you see little bits of powder from the embossing buddy on your cardstock; they will easily brush away at the end.  This will help stop any stray bits of embossing powder (if you were embossing) or heat n stick powder from sticking to the places you don't want them to go.

Step Two:  

Ink up your stamp with Versamark.  Versamark is a clear "sticky" ink that can be used alone to create a lovely watermark effect (tone on tone) or can be used to heat emboss with coloured dye inks or coloured embossing powder.  It is a must-have in any stamper's arsenal of supplies, in my opinion

.

Step Three

Next ink your stamp into your dye ink of choice (here I've used Wild Wasabi):

And here's what it should look like:

Step Four: 

Next, working quickly while the ink is still wet, pour some Heat n Stick Powder over your image.  Tap off any excess and return it to the jar (it can be used many times over).  Here's where the Powder Pal comes in handy (and now you see why I rubbed it over with the embossing buddy:  static cling makes the fine powder stick even to the powder pal).

 

Step Five

Now heat up the image with your heat gun until you see the powder go shiny:

 

Step Six

While the image is sticky, dump on your glitter, and tap off any excess:

   

I store my glitter (and the embossing powders I use most) in these handy Glad containers,  much easier for clean up.

Step Seven

Then give it a quick (and I mean only for a couple of seconds) blast with your heat gun again to set.  It is frustratingly easy to burn your image if you overheat it - so you might need to do a few practice runs with this.

Step Eight

Allow image to cool, then using a paintbrush, or in my case, an old makeup brush, remove any stray glitter from your image.

  

And voila!  Your lovely, glittery tree is ready to be added to your project.  Click on the image to see more detail.  The other great thing about this technique (apart from the bling!) is that because the glitter is "set" with the heat gun, it won't rub off your project.

Summer Mini Preview!

Two posts in as many days!   Alert the media!

Got a lovely package with my Summer Mini pre-order goodies inside today, and I couldn't resist having a play with it right away.   Had to make a get well card for one of my daughter's little friends, and made another card while I was at it.  Good to have one spare, right?

Both cards use the new stamp set, "Live Your Dreams", and the co-ordinating DSP, "Afternoon tea".  So pretty!

Better get back to the children I've abandoned while inspiration struck.